Charles william ayton



(NoModeL) 0. W. AYTON. ELECTRICAL STEERING GEAR.

No. 507,522. Patefited Oct. 31,1893.

' UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WILLIAM AYTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL STEERING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,522, dated October 31, 1893, Application filed July 13, 1892. Serial No- 439.864- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be 1t known that I, CHARLES WILLIAM AYTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Apparatus for Torpedo-Boats, (Case No. 7,) of whichthe following isa specification. The object of my invention is to provide a torpedo boat which will start from a given point in the water and travel therefrom to a distant ship or similar object without an y one on board and without any connection with the point of starting.

To this end the invention relates to a torpedo boat equipped with a mariners compass which controls an electric current which in turn operates a rudder whenever the boat steers either to the right or left from the course in which it has been adjusted.

In order that the exact nature of the construction may be easily understood, the following drawings are annexed.

Figure 1, is a plan of the boat, in which the elements of the invention are shown mostly in diagram. Fig. 2, is an elevation partly in cross section. In order that all the parts may be shown in Fig. 2, as far as practicable, the relative positions of the elements are slightlyv changed. v

The principle of operation is based upon the scientific principle that a compass needle always points to the magnetic north pole of the earth. This needle is represented at the letter a, and is pivoted at the center and is perfectly free to move in either direction horizontally, and to a limited extent in vertical planes. The pivot is lettered b. The compass box is swung upon pivots c, which are carried by a pivoted ring d,.all in the ordinary manner of supporting a compass box at sea, so that the needle will lie in horizontal planes normally, independently of the rocking of the ship. The pivots :of the ring d, are e, and are carried upon the frame f,

which is rotary in consequence of the central pivot g, supported in the bearing h. The frame j, when turned, carries with it all the above named elements which turn with it,

but the needle a,'remains pointing to the north.

The device for turning the compass box and its adjuncts is the thumb screw 1', which projects above the deck A of the boat. This screw is preferably detachable in the manner of a key of a clock.

Mounted within the compass box j, is a small magnet k, whose armature is Z, mounted upon the spring guide 111, which extends to a point above the needle a, and is in the form of a bent aluminium wire for the sake of lightness in weight. When pulled down by the magnet, the said guide or wire directs the needle against one of the electric terminals n, n, according to which the needle is over. If over neither, the needle comes in contact with neither. The said terminals are separated onlya small distance, about an inch or so, or perhaps less.

It will be noticed that the magnet is as small as possible and that it is located as far as possible or practicable from the needle'a, so that it will have no direct magnetic influence thereon. The ordinary means applied, in marine practice for neutralizing magnetic influences upon the needles may also be applied here, but need not be described as they have nothing to do with my invention.

0, is a clock providedwith a periodical circuit interrupter p, which is in circuit with the magnet 70, and the generator g. It is now evident that inasmuch as the wire m will tilt every few seconds or in fact at any desired intervals of time, the needle will also be made to tilt, and will close a circuit through one of the terminals n, n under certain conditions as hereinafter set forth. During the remaining intervals, the needle a is free to obey the attraction of the earths magnetism.

r, is a rudder pivoted at a: and controlled in difierent directions respectively by the magnets s, s, which are so disposed that one magnet when energized, will steer the boat in one direction while the other will steer it in the other direction. To this end, the armatures of the magnets are attached to arms 25, and are in the form'of armatures called cores, while the magnets are in that form known as solenoids for the purpose of getting a long pull and one dependent upon the strength of the magnet. A periodic circuit closer is provided for each of the magnets s, s and each consists of the wheel '11, propelled bythe clock 0, while brushes '0' rest above said wheels.

In order that the rudder may be held to one side for a longer period of time than the instant during which the needle 0:, is in contact with one of the terminals 01,, n, which period would not be long enough to produce more than a very slight change in the course of the boat, means are provided for prolonging the action of the magnets s, s, on the rudder during one complete rotation of the wheels to". This is accomplished by the instrumentality of two local circuits which are normally open; One of these iscomposed of the magnets s, S, the generator of electricity Q, brush '0; the other is composed of the magnets 8, S, the generator Q, the conductor D, the wheel '11 and the brush 1;. These are all in circuit with each other. The brushes 1; are'mounted on the levers 'u, but are insulated from them. Besides these local circuits, there are three independent circuits, as follows: one from the positive pole of the generator q, to the periodical circuit interrupter p, to and through the magnet 7c, and thus to the negative pole. The second circuit is from the positive pole of the generator q, to the coil S, which is locatcdover the magnet S, to the terminal n, to the needle (1,, to the pivot 13, and then to the negative pole. The third circuit is from the positive pole of the generator q, to the coil S, which is located over the magnet S, to the terminal at, to the needle (1 to the pivot b, and finally to the negative pole. It should be explained that the coils S, are not connected with the other coils on the electromagnets S. There are thus two independent coils on each magnet and which are, furthermore, located in separate circuits, as explained above.

If the boat should sail in a straight line, with the needle a, located between the terminals n, n, the periodical magnetizations of the magnet 10, will .simply tilt the needle periodically and the latter will escapecontact with the terminals n, n. When the boat deviates from its course, the tilting of the needle will close the circuit through one of the coils S, thereby energizing one of the magnets S. The action of this magnet upon its armature O, which is attached to the lever 12, will move the lever and bring the brush 0, into contact with the wheel u". wheels at, being continuously rotated by the clock, the small piece of insulation U, moves J from under the brush, thereby closing one of the local circuits. The magnet S, in this circuit causes the brush to bearagainst the wheel a and keep the circuit closed till the rotation of the wheel brings the piece of insulation in contact with the brush and thus interrupts the circuit. Then one of the springs B, returns the lever 12, together with thebrush '0', to their normal position out of contact with the wheel u".

In the complete manipulation ofthe device, the operation is as follows:-Suppose, for example, that the boat is the conductor D, the wheel 'u, and the The to sail by itself in a northeasterly direction, as represented in the drawings, where the arrow N is pointing northerly. The boat is pointed north east and the frame f, is turned until the terminals n, n, lie respectively on opposite.

sides of the needle a. This position is shown in Fig. 1. If the needle tilts either by the motion of the waves of the water, or by the magnet-k, the circuit will not be closed through one of the magnets s, 3. But, suppose the boat turns from its course, in view of the wind, tide or want of symmetry of construction or from any ordinary cause which is likely to exist in practice; then will the whole boat rotate on its axis, and one of the terminals 11., n, will come under the needle, so that the next time it tilts, the circuit will be closed through one of the magnets 3, 8'. Therefore, the rudder will be adjusted into a difierent position and consequently cause the boat to steer more or less. Although the needle will be in c ntact with one of the terminals 71 n, nl an instant on account of the circuit closer p, consisting simply of a projection 12', on a wheel coming in contactwith the spring terminal 19', yet the rudder will be held to one side for several seconds, because the insulation U, occupies only a small portion of the periphery of the wheel upon which it is located. The circuit through one of the magnets s, 3', remains closed until the'insulation comes under the brush again, when the circuit is opened. It may be that the boat is now pointing again north east, but if not, the tilting of the needle will bring it about atlast within a few seconds of the original direction.-

It is admitted that in the case of the presence of a strong tide, the boat would simultaneously float down or up stream and that allowance would have to be made for the tide in the same manner that pilots must aim originally to one side of the point they wish to reach in order to allow for the tide. This matter is settled by practice and computation as in the firing of caution balls whereby they may be directed with great accuracy in spite of gravitation, resistance of the air, variable explosive powers of diiferent powders, &c. t I

By this invention no heavy connecting wires are needed, but it is evident thatif desired, a delicate string may be allowed to be pulled along by the boat so that, should it not strike thevessel to be destroyed, it may be pulled back and adjusted and thereby made useful. For purposes of practice, such a string could be used with advantage.

No means of propulsion are shown, but it is evident that my invention has nothing to do with that. Either electric, steam,or even wind power may be employed.

It is well known that the magnetic compass needle moves with the greatest delicacy, and that the least force will stop its progress, but by the organization shown, the needle can move to any position without hinderance and may obey the earths magnetism with as much freedom as if it were not employed indirectly to steer a sizable boat.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the rudder of a boat, of electric motors engaged therewith, a mariners compass, means for periodically tilting the needle of said compass, electric terminals in the path of said needle, when in predetermined positions, and an electric generator in circuit with the said motors.

2. The combination with the rudder of a boat, of magnets adapted to move the rudder in dilferent directions, a compass needle arranged 'for swinging horizontally and vertically, electric terminals lying in the path of the said needle, when tilting in predetermined positions, and located in independent circuits, whose common terminal is said needle, a magnet 70, located in a third circuit, its armature carrying a projection lying in the path of the tilting needle, for the purpose, as described of causing the needle to tilt at intervals, periodical circuit interrupters in said independ ent circuits, and an electric generator included in all of said circuits.

3. The combination with the rudder or similar steering device of a boat, of a compass needle horizontally and vertically movable about a point, means for periodically tilting the needle, electric motors engaged with said rudder, and circuit closers, consisting of the terminals n, n and the needle, in circuit with said motors.

4. The combination with the rudder or similar device of a boat, of electric motors engaged therewith, and a compass needle controlling the currents passing through said motors, the respective terminals of the said needle, lying in the path of the tilting needle when-at predetermined positions.

5. The combination with the rudder of a boat, of arms 15, extending therefrom, magnets engaged with the said arms in such a manner that the energizing of one of the magnets moves the rudder in one direction and the energizing of the other magnet moves it in the opposite direction, means for tilting a compass needle carried by the boat, said meansv consisting of a magnet and its armature intermittent circuit closer, electric terminals respectivelyin circuitwith the said magnets, and located on each side of but at a different level from the end of said needle which forms the common terminal of the circuits of the last CHARLES WILLIAM AYTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. THOMPSON, E. W. L. BLATZ.

cluded in a circuit which also includes an in- 50 ence of two witnesses, this 17th day of March, 

